Poland

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Poland has cut coal’s electricity share from 91% twenty years ago to 51% today, setting an example for similar economies worldwide

Last Updated: 14 Apr 2026

Anchor point: Overview

51%

Share of electricity from coal

25%

Share of electricity from wind and solar

1.6 million

Number of renewable energy prosumers

31% of Poland’s electricity was generated from low-carbon sources in 2025, below the EU average of 71%.

Poland’s largest source of clean electricity is wind (14%), but the country has seen some of the most rapid solar growth in Europe, adding over 20 GW of solar capacity between 2020 and 2025. Yet the combined share of wind and solar (25%) remains below the EU average (30%).

Poland relied on fossil fuels for 69% of its electricity in 2025, mainly coal (51%). Its per capita emissions of 2.7 tonnes of CO2e exceeded the EU average of 1.3 tonnes. It ranked 26th globally for electricity demand in 2024.

Poland’s power sector emissions fell by 30% in the last two decades, despite rising electricity demand and one of the highest GDP growth rates among OECD countries. This was mainly due to solar and wind displacing coal.

Poland is one of the top 10 emitters of coal mine methane globally. In 2023, Poland contributed 65% of the EU’s total coal mine methane emissions. Since 2025, however, Polish coal mining has been subject to the EU Methane Regulation, which is introducing a series of requirements for reporting and reducing methane emissions.

As of 22 January 2026, Poland was aiming for 51% of renewable electricity generation and 64 GW of renewable capacity by 2030, including almost 6 GW of offshore wind. For the country’s latest renewables targets, see our 2030 Global Renewable Target Tracker.

Poland is rapidly moving from coal to clean electricity, cutting coal’s share in the energy mix by 30 percentage points in 10 years. Yet unlike some Western European neighbours, it has maintained high GDP growth throughout the process, becoming a more relatable example for other coal-dependent economies worldwide. Poland now needs to double down on clean power, grids, interconnection and flexibility, using the energy transition to boost both security and economic prosperity.

Pawel Czyzak
‍Interim Europe Programme Director, Ember

Satellites have ended the era of invisible methane emissions. In 2025, over a 100 super-emitter events detected by satellites have been traced to Polish coal mines. With high-resolution imagery now publicly available, independent verification is within reach. The detection of persistent methane emissions exposes a risk of non-compliance under the EU Methane Regulation.